90c outdoor fixture with 60c wire.

10 years ago

So I bought a couple of flush mount outdoor fixtures for under my eaves. I installed one, it looks nice. I go to install the other and I see the warning label on the underside that say "min 90c conductor".

I have rubberised TW wire, I think thats only 60c from what I read. The box is recessed into the eaves. There is aluminum siding, then wood, then the box. The nipple hangs the fixture about 3 inches away from the box with the aluminum siding and wood sandwitched between.

The fixture takes 1x60w and I am using 1x13 CFL equivilant.

Is this a safety hazard?

P.S. - The manufactures sure dont make it easy to see this requirement as it is only printed on the underside of the fixture and not in the installation directions nor on the inside that you would see when swapping bulbs.

Do I have to get rid of this thing?

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Comments (4)

Ron Natalie
10 years ago
Yes, if the installation information says it requires 90C insulation you can't use type TW. You will not find that an UNCOMMON restriction these days. Rewire it with THHN-2 or even NM (while NM uses the 60C ampacity it actually has 90C insulation for this purpose).

You can mount an accessible box nearby and make the jump from TW to the 90C stuff.
Ron Natalie
10 years ago
Yes, if the installation information says it requires 90C insulation you can't use type TW. You will not find that an UNCOMMON restriction these days. Rewire it with THHN-2 or even NM (while NM uses the 60C ampacity it actually has 90C insulation for this purpose).

You can mount an accessible box nearby and make the jump from TW to the 90C stuff.
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abbey_cny
10 years ago
I had the same problem with a front porch flush ceiling fixture and the advice I got here was to rewire it back to the junction box with the properly rated wire. I had a terrible time finding an electrician who was willing to do it, the first three told me it wasn't necessary. Sounds like you are installing it yourself so you won't run into that problem.

abbey
mikezusa
Original Author
10 years ago
All fixed now. But now this warning has got me paranoid!

Theres a few newish fixtures that were here when I moved in, do you think I should be removing them and replacing to be safe?

Would you swap fixtures that you werent sure about?